Railway upgrades prepare for the future while existing assets are made more reliable in Merseyside

On Saturday 2 February on the Southport line, our engineers will start the sixth of 11 phases to upgrade the Merseyrail network. This is to prepare platforms for the arrival of Merseyrail’s state-of-the-art trains in 2020.

We will be altering the height and width of station platforms and realigning track. This will ensure that the new trains’ sliding step can meet the platform edge, helping passengers get on and off the train with ease.

To maximise the closure and minimise further disruption to passengers, we’ve also brought forward some of our essential maintenance works. These additional activities will help keep trains safe and running on time.

As such, we are renewing the bridge deck on a railway bridge in Bootle that straddles the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. This renewal work will take place between 18 – 22 February.

Additionally, track maintenance works will take place along the route on Sunday 17 February.

We apologise to passengers for the delay in reopening platform three at Hunts Cross

On Monday (28 January), buses replaced trains between Liverpool South Parkway and Hunts Cross stations. This was due to overrunning upgrade work to platform three at Hunts Cross station.

Stormy conditions and problems with some of our machinery meant that we were unable to reopen the platform as planned on Monday morning. We are really sorry to Merseyrail customers who were impacted by this delay.

While services resumed the next day, Brunswick, St Michaels, Aigburth and Cressington platforms opened as planned on Monday.